Weather wins as rugby is called off
Greenock Wanderers Oban Lorne
BT West Division 1 P P
SATURDAY’S rugby programme across the country felt the full effects of the Beast from the East with almost all Premiership, National and Regional league fixture across the country being postponed.
Greenock notified Oban Lorne’s team management on the Thursday evening that there would be no game in Inverclyde due to a large amount of snow on the playing surface. This came as no surprise but meant yet another rearranged fixture for the Green Machine.
The 2017/18 season has been a frustrating one for many West Regional clubs with the decision of going to a 12-team league having a major impact on the length of the playing season.
Referees and pitches have been severely stretched to a point where a few clubs are questioning their long-term involvement in the setup.
As things stand, Oban Lorne will be playing league rugby as far ahead as May 12 without taking Saturday’s postponement into account.
The team still have 10 league games remaining.
Oban Lorne currently occupy 11th place in the league and face the very real possibility of relegation come the end of the season. The club do have several winnable fixtures coming up.
This Saturday they make the long trip to take on Annan. The sides met in January with the visitors recording a 26-15 win at Glencruitten.
The next home game for Oban Lorne is against bottom club Helensburgh RFC on March 31, with kick off at 3pm. OBAN Lorne Ladies’ fixture away to Kelso was also postponed on Sunday due to pitch and weather conditions.
The Green Army will have to wait until this Sunday for a chance to secure the National League 2 title with the visit of Royal Dick Vet College Women to Glencruitten. Sunday’s fixture kicks off at 2pm.
The squad are stepping up their preparations for the upcoming BT National Bowl on Sunday April 8.
The ladies take on National 1 side Howe of Fife Women for a place in the national final at BT Murrayfield.
Youth, girls and mini rugby games postponed
LAST weekend’s U18, U16, U15 girls, U13/14 boys and mini rugby fixtures were all postponed due to weather or travel conditions.
This week the U18s continue their West League Cup group with an away trip to Dalziel RFC while the U16s play at home to Whitecraigs.